If you couldn’t ride bikes anymore…

[Ou812]

I’ve been dealing with some medical issues over the years that have gotten worse. It’s to the point where I can’t finish a ride anymore. I’m kind of in limbo dealing with the NHS, been waiting 5 months so far just to get another MRI that won’t show anything.

What would you do other than biking?!? I’m at a loss, I used to race RC cars but there’s no tracks where I live so that’s not going to happen. I love long distance shooting, still have some mega money in guns back in the US but can’t do that here either

 

[Polar]

What about skydiving it's also a adrenaline sport

 

[Rando_12345]

My brother has a simrig for virtual car racing. He uses about €2-3k worth of kit (seat, brace, wheel pedals) and mostly plays GT7 on PS5, with a VR headset. It is really fun and if I had the space, I would definitely set one up for 30-60min sessions.

Similarly, a new indoor electric gokart track opened up near me, the big advantage is they run short sessions with barely any waiting around, you book your slots online, roll up do a few 10 minute rounds and head off. This ends up being very costly if you were to go weekly.

Never tried it, but I imagine getting a DJI Avata2 FPV drone (example) if you have someplace legal/isolated to do FPV droning probably gives similar rush to MTB.

 

[Weeksy]

I'd become a fat drunk..

 

[Ou812]

What about skydiving it's also a adrenaline sport

I was HALO/HAHO qualified in a prior life, jumping out of planes doesn’t really do anything for me.

 

[Ou812]

My brother has a simrig for virtual car racing. He uses about €2-3k worth of kit (seat, brace, wheel pedals) and mostly plays GT7 on PS5, with a VR headset. It is really fun and if I had the space, I would definitely set one up for 30-60min sessions.

Similarly, a new indoor electric gokart track opened up near me, the big advantage is they run short sessions with barely any waiting around, you book your slots online, roll up do a few 10 minute rounds and head off. This ends up being very costly if you were to go weekly.

Never tried it, but I imagine getting a DJI Avata2 FPV drone (example) if you have someplace legal/isolated to do FPV droning probably gives similar rush to MTB.

I’ve tried the VR stuff, couldn’t do it. My medical issues involves balance, there’s a massive disconnect between my eyes/ears. I did the VR thing for about 2 mins and was basically throwing up from motion sickness. Same with karting, we have a sweet indoor kart track near me. I went with my BIL and had to stop before the time was up. Anything that involves quick head moments is pretty much a no-go.

 

[Ou812]

I'd become a fat drunk..

I’m heading that way minus the drunk part, I used to ride 4-5 times a week. I’ve managed 1 decent ride in the last month. My GP gave me some meds to try while I wait for the pointless MRI but they’re aren’t doing anything. I asked my sister about them, she’s a board certified family nurse practitioner back in the US, she had never heard of it. Turns out the FDA stopped it being prescribed in the US in the late 70s as it didn’t work

 

[Rando_12345]

Ah that sucks, I thought you were mostly having strength issues.

If your strength is ok, bouldering gyms are really good fun, you can go quite slowly and can pace yourself in order to not fall, not sure if that is compatible with your condition.

Don't know if snorkeling/diving is doable for you, although if you are in scotland let's forget about that one!

 

[James_C]

have you tried this: Home Epley Maneuver

 

[IndigoUnicorn]

The first step? I’d get (or at least rent) a recumbent etrike and give it a whirl.

If that didn’t work, I’d try my indoor trainer paired with one of those goofy MMOs.

If all else has failed, only then would I give up on cycling and find some other hobby.

 

[Ou812]

Ah that sucks, I thought you were mostly having strength issues.

If your strength is ok, bouldering gyms are really good fun, you can go quite slowly and can pace yourself in order to not fall, not sure if that is compatible with your condition.

Don't know if snorkeling/diving is doable for you, although if you are in scotland let's forget about that one!

I used to enjoy diving before these issues started getting worse, now I think the pressure on my ears makes it way worse. I was working with an ENT before moving here but my GP here wants to verify everything that’s already been done. I was told before it was Ménière’s syndrome, most likely due to tinnitus/hearing loss from the military.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Gutted for you, I had eight months off my bike due to injury and was going mad with frustration. Even now I still haven’t been to a bike park just riding on back roads and forest trails to be safe. But next year I am going to hit the bike parks and see how my shoulder holds out. If it hurts to much it will be back roads and forest trails but at least I will still be out on my bike.
I really can’t think what I would do if I could not get out on my bike because I surf, skateboard. Hiking which I would properly do more of. You’re still out in nature enjoying the great outdoors.
As you live in Scotland you’re surrounded by mountains and Glens to hike. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[steve_sordy]

Ten-pin bowling?

If that is too energetic, or requires too much rapid head movement, then how about crown green or flat green bowling. Flat green is also done indoors so it's an all year, all weather activity. My wife started flat green bowling just under 4 years ago and loves it with an absolute passion! She started with professional coaching and borrowed bowls. She prefers outdoors, but transfers to indoor when the outdoor season ends. She was told that she had a natural action and showed great potential. Her coach was correct, she was this year's Ladies Singles Champion at her local club!

They keep asking me to join, but if the weather is good enough for bowls, it's good enough for biking!

You could maybe give dancing a try. Or fishing!

 

[Ou812]

Ten-pin bowling?

If that is too energetic, or requires too much rapid head movement, then how about crown green or flat green bowling. Flat green is also done indoors so it's an all year, all weather activity. My wife started flat green bowling just under 4 years ago and loves it with an absolute passion! She started with professional coaching and borrowed bowls. She prefers outdoors, but transfers to indoor when the outdoor season ends. She was told that she had a natural action and showed great potential. Her coach was correct, she was this year's Ladies Singles Champion at her local club!

They keep asking me to join, but if the weather is good enough for bowls, it's good enough for biking!

You could maybe give dancing a try. Or fishing!

I love fishing….just not in the UK. It’s not like it is back where I from, you have one license that covers the whole state. I can see the River Ness from my house, only problem is the few miles of river near me is privately owned, if you want to fish there it will cost you £150/day and that’s if they have any openings. The guest staying at the fishing lodge have priority as that’s what they’re paying for. The local fishing club only has a small part of the river and from what I’ve been told it’s not a very good spot, the salmon zoom past that spot to get further up river. Plus you can’t even keep any salmon

 

[Mabman]

You might try a gym membership? From what I see on social media there are some good views there. We have a pretty good one at home but the mirror in there isn't all that revealing.

As far as salmon fishing goes the very idea of catch and release is lost on me. Catch and sell or eat has always worked best for my lifestyle.

 

[steve_sordy]

How about servicing them?
Get yourself Cytech qualified and you can either charge or do it for fun for worthy causes.

That has the advantage that you are investing in yourself, which will come in handy when your health problem is resolved.

 

[Mikerb]

I’ve been dealing with some medical issues over the years that have gotten worse. It’s to the point where I can’t finish a ride anymore. I’m kind of in limbo dealing with the NHS, been waiting 5 months so far just to get another MRI that won’t show anything.

What would you do other than biking?!? I’m at a loss, I used to race RC cars but there’s no tracks where I live so that’s not going to happen. I love long distance shooting, still have some mega money in guns back in the US but can’t do that here either

go private to get your health issues resolved. My wife became practically crippled with hip problems...got nowhere with the NHS..........went private.........examined, xrayed, diagnosed, operated ( titanium hip replacement) all within 2 weeks! She now rides both bikes and horses..good as new!! Yes its expensive but what cost being denied doing what you love??

 

[Ou812]

go private to get your health issues resolved. My wife became practically crippled with hip problems...got nowhere with the NHS..........went private.........examined, xrayed, diagnosed, operated ( titanium hip replacement) all within 2 weeks! She now rides both bikes and horses..good as new!! Yes it’s expensive but what cost being denied doing what you love??

Funny thing is the ENT that I’d be seeing privately is the same one that I’m seeing with the NHS. I have private insurance but it’s not covered since it’s considered a pre-existing condition. I’ll be making a trip back to the US in a few months, I’m trying to get something lined up with the VA hospital if I can.

 

[irie]

go private to get your health issues resolved. My wife became practically crippled with hip problems...got nowhere with the NHS..........went private.........examined, xrayed, diagnosed, operated ( titanium hip replacement) all within 2 weeks! She now rides both bikes and horses..good as new!! Yes its expensive but what cost being denied doing what you love??

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. The NHS said my prostate had breached because an MRI scan within 4 weeks of a biopsy unsurprisingly showed tissue damage which also happened to be consistent with a breached prostate, and recommended several potentially life limiting treatments for cancer which had spread out of the prostate. See Edit#2 below.

After several hours on the internet with my wife (a post grad nurse) we came to the conclusion that I had been mis-diagnosed. So paid for a private appointment with the top surgeon at the Royal Marsden in London. He confirmed the misdiagnosis and that the cancer had, as we had concluded, not escaped the prostate.

He operated on me just before Christmas 2007 with a Da Vinci Surgical machine, cost a lot of money but have since been cancer free.

Lesson: don't take what you're told as gospel truth, do your own research and trust your judgement.

Edit#1: If for whatever reason public medical services fail then pay for private medical treatment. You're dead a long time.

Edit#2: a second factor that I forgot to mention was that at the time my PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) level was 5.8 However, at the appointment where we were informed that my prostate had breached my wife read the Consultants notes upside down (as experienced nurses can often do ) and saw that my PSA level had been mistyped as 58.0, which is extremely high! Not surprising that this mistyped PSA level combined with a MRI scan taken too close to the biopsy showing unhealed prostate tissue damage caused by a biopsy resulted in the conclusion was that my prostate had breached allowing the spread of cancer.

 

[Mikerb]

Funny thing is the ENT that I’d be seeing privately is the same one that I’m seeing with the NHS. I have private insurance but it’s not covered since it’s considered a pre-existing condition. I’ll be making a trip back to the US in a few months, I’m trying to get something lined up with the VA hospital if I can.

it often is...the difference is the service you get and speed of delivery.

 

[Twisted Fork]

I’m currently laid up with a knee injury that’ll be keeping me off the trails for a few months. Have been eying up the disk golf course down the road as a potential alternative low impact activity. Always thought it might be fun, but up until now, every moment of my leisure time has been spent riding.

 

[2WheelsNot4]

I love long distance shooting, still have some mega money in guns back in the US but can’t do that here either

Yes you can. Obviously you'd need to join a proper club, but semi automatic and bolt action 'sniper' rifles are legal in the UK.

M4

Best be prepared for when the zombie apocalypse kicks off.

 

[Mikerb]

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. The NHS said my prostate had breached because an MRI scan within 4 weeks of a biopsy unsurprisingly showed tissue damage consistent with a breached prostate, and recommended several potentially life limiting treatments for cancer which had spread out of the prostate

After several hours on the internet with my wife (a post grad nurse) we came to the conclusion that I had been mis-diagnosed. So paid for a private appointment with the top surgeon at the Royal Marsden in London. He confirmed the misdiagnosis the cancer had as we had concluded not escaped the prostate.

He operated on me just before Christmas 2007 with a Da Vinci Surgical machine, cost a lot of money but have since been cancer free.

Lesson: don't take what you're told as gospel truth, do your own research and trust your judgement.

Heck! Good news but not good being given the wrong diagnosis initially ! Makes me wonder whether the OP had some general tests like blood pressure, urine and faeces tests before being referred to a ENT specialist.

 

[Ou812]

Yes you can. Obviously you'd need to join a proper club, but semi automatic and bolt action 'sniper' rifles are legal in the UK.

M4

Best be prepared for when the zombie apocalypse kicks off.

The one thing I’ve discovered about shooting is it’s a rich persons sport, especially in Scotland. My father-in-law’s best friend was some big shot acquisitions lawyer down in London, traveled the world closing deals. He’s retired now and lives on a massive estate up here in the highlands. He invited me on a shoot with his club but sent me to get fitted for a tweed suit and jacket now I have a custom fitted £2k shooting suit that I’ve worn once. I have money but didn’t come from it like a lot of those guys, they were the walking cliche when you think rich British snobs.

 

[EMTBSEAN]

Paramotoring for me, it was either Emtbing or paramotoring, Emtb won the fight

 

[Giff]

You may not like the sound of it but what about a trike? I don’t know much about them but it maybe ok with balance issues on some XC trails.

 

[Hotrod]

When I am not riding I shoot trap and skeet, although it's getting expensive, it's and enjoyable sport. I also enjoy photography which gets me outdoors doing a very relaxeing activity. Hope you find something that works for you.

 

[BobR]

You are in the land of golf… try it and yes… do your own research as no one cares about you as much as yourself and if you are fortunate, your wife

 

[mickshere]

Im sorry but I have no useful suggestions, but I wanted to say how heartening it is to read how may people have contributed to your situation. All the very best

 

[Ickle_legs]

Deffo look at trikes - some years ago my wife lost confidence on 2 wheels, did look at the traditional trikes(700c wheels) but they have high centre of gravity so v.tippy. She opted for a recumbent trike - Inspired Cycle Engineering(ICE), Falmouth - she now has an e-trike which works for her on road and even some off-road (fitted knobbly rear tyre, Jumping Jack, for better grip).
For off-road there are limitations: unless you're Geoff Capes you ain't lifting it over gates/ stiles, obvs.trike is too wide for proper single track but doublewides and most bridlepaths are OK, long low chassis with 20" wheels mean low ground clearance, steep off cambers require weight shift to compensate, use of low gear needed on loose surface or steep inclines as can't get weight over rear tyre and torque easily breaks rear wheel grip ( I then press down on the rear rack to improve traction- whilst also pushing my mtb alongside ), derailleur is close to ground(hub gears would be better I reckon).
We have a van so can transport it easily but note ICE do a clever folding chassis that enables the trike to fit in rear of a fairly small hatchback.
Despite the cost and off-road limitations it's been worth it to my wife to keep cycling, especially in the countryside and up hills (btw she's 69yrs old with asthma and now dodgy knees).
A final point, you have to use clip-ins e.g.SPD pedals